Bali Omen

A Living Hell

The man’s first love is staring right back at him. Her deep blue eyes contrast starkly with her long black ponytail. Back in the college days, she changed hair colour as often as one would change clothes— from dark blue, hot pink, noisy red, and once even bright rainbow to show her support for the l***q+ community. This new dark tone look somehow makes her appear more mature and intriguing, but not any less charismatic. She has always been a fiery one, and he adored her deeply for that. That’s what made him fall head over heels in love with her back then. Yet, who is he kidding though— he has been never been in a romantic relationship since breaking up with her six years ago. Of course, occasional hookups are excluded in this instance. The man’s jaws harden. He squints his blue eyes slightly, as if something has successfully pissed him off.

The sudden wind blows her ponytail to every direction and the girl reaches back to prevent it from flying wildly. The man snorts and turns his vision away from his imaginative ex-girlfriend. Trying to regain his focus, he takes three deep breaths and stares intensely at a palm tree nearby, a method he learned in a psychology class to reduce inner tension. The technique seems to be fruitless though as the man’s face keeps getting grimmer and worse. The scorching sun in Bali and his sweaty back don’t help much either. The man has always hated it when he can’t control his emotion, especially this time, as the primary trigger of it was apparently, himself.

“Something bothering you, Mr. Lee?” another man asked in a concerned tone. It’s his meditation instructor, Raja. Ever since the man in question, Asher Lee, has stepped foot in Bali, he immediately signed up for a meditation class on the spot. His Balinese instructor, Raja, has been nothing but very helpful. It’s been three days since his landing on the paradise island and Raja has already introduced him to multiple local restaurants and beaches, ones that are out of the tourists’ reach and feel beautifully exclusive. They would often have lunch after finishing the three-hour morning session— something that Asher rather enjoys.

“Nothing much. Just some stupid thoughts.” Asher answered him.

“Sounds like something important to me though.” Raja smiles.

Asher gives Raja with an impassive gaze. He usually doesn’t like it when other people try to probe information out of him. But Raja is his instructor. And this is his holiday, not work time. Not everybody wants to harm him. Perhaps he should listen what his stepmother, Claire, had advised before, for him to be more open to others and not as closed off. Besides there’s no way a kind-hearted and meek man like Raja could pose any dangers.

“I just thought of my ex-girlfriend back in college.” Asher said monotonously and shrugged.

“Oh? Really? She pretty?” Raja asked with a super curious pair of doe eyes.

Asher freezes slightly before answering the question. “Yeah. She was.” He turns at her direction. She’s still there in his imagination. “She still looks great now— dark long hair, blue eyes, and… sporty.” Asher adds. This time, he completely gets rid of his previous walls and takes his time to admire the lady. He is in awe of his subconscious for being so rich of imagination.

Raja follows his gaze and raises an eyebrow. The instructor then bites his inner chick in a cunning smile, as if containing a laugh that almost bursts out of his mouth. “Wow, I can see why you regret it now. She’s indeed very beautiful, Mr. Lee.”

Asher returns his stare quickly back at Raja. Before the man could ask anything to clarify his confusion, someone from afar cuts him off.

“Asher? Is it you? Asher Lee?” a woman’s voice, just loud enough for the two men to hear, brought everything to a halt.

Asher slowly turns his head toward the source of the sound.

“Oh my God! It’s really you! Asher stupid Lee! What are you f*****g doing here?” The woman yelled hysterically in excitement this time, like the girl from his previous life that Asher used to know and love dearly.

Silence ensues. As if time has stopped for Asher during those three seconds, déjà vu perhaps. He catches his breath and looks at her straight in the eye.

There is the woman who has haunted him in his dreams, certainly not an imagination. Certainly, she is a human being who is well and alive. More certainly, she is Britney Owen, who just winked at him flirtatiously and is now smiling widely without any remorse.

 “Shit.” Asher muttered before he knew it.

 “Seems like I won’t be joining you for lunch today, sir.” Raja smirked like a devil himself.

 “Enjoy your time, Mr. Lee.” The instructor then stands while picking up his mat on the small hill. “By the way, don’t forget to breathe, sir.” He added with a grin.

Asher shoots him an accusatory look, as if blaming Raja for everything.

“I will see you tomorrow. I hope you will be in a more peaceful mind, sir. Namaste.” Raja said. “By the way, the lady is welcome in our class, Mr. Lee.” The instructor added and fled before anything could happen to him. This is what he likes about American customers, Raja thought to himself. They are way more laid back than others. It would be absolutely horrid if he made this kind of jokes with other clients. The instructor whistles without a care of the world and debates what he should have for lunch.

On the other hand, the so-called American client is suddenly attacked with a massive headache after his departure. That beautiful dark-haired girl is coming closer to him and almost reaching the small hill where he is.

Asher’s heart beats like a furious drum.

She is coming.

Britney Owen. The one who almost took his soul and every bits and pieces of him away. The one who brought his life to hell and back. The one who, betrayed him, so he betrayed her back, much cruelly. They were both to each other.

But why does he have to meet her now? All of times? During his ever-so-precious, hard earned holiday? It’s as if the universe is mocking Asher and going against his will— resurfacing all the scars he had worked so hard to bury these past few years.

“Hi.” Britney greeted when she finally reached him. Standing one meter apart, the woman gives Asher a small smile, an air of melancholy surrounding her.

“Hi.” Asher replied her greeting with a strained voice.

Silence. They look at each other, each dwelling on their own thoughts. Asher just hopes that this meeting, the damned fated reunion that shouldn’t have occurred in the first place—wouldn’t send his life to a living hell again.